Where Demi goes, can Ashton be far behind? (Photo by TechCrunch50-2008)

In today’s lineup of galas and special presentations we have Ewan McGregor and Clooney chasing government conspiracies, Natalie Portman playing a stepmom (in non-Julia Roberts fashion) and Demi Moore and David Duchovny at war with their neighbours. Learn about all of these, plus the directorial debut of designer Tom Ford and many other screenings, after the jump.

Galas

Film: Agora (Spain. North American Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: Historical Egyptian drama (read: no killer mummies) set in the fourth century when a new wave of Christianity threatens the Roman Empire.
Director: Alejandro Amenábar (The Others)
Actors: Rachel Weisz, Rupert Evans
Wild speculation: Weisz was in town last year for The Brothers Bloom but maybe she’ll skip this year to avoid relentless Mummy and Mummy Returns jokes.

Film: Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky (France. North American premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: A chronicle of the passionate relationship between the two legends— musical and fashion, respectively—starting in the early 20th century when Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring was met with hisses and boos.
Director: Jan Kounen
Actors: Mads Mikkelsen, Anna Mouglalis

Film: I, Don Giovanni (Austria/Italy/Spain. World Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: Historical drama based on the story of how unknown lyricist Lorenzo da Ponte paired up with Mozart to create one of the most famous operas in history.
Director: Carlos Saura (Tango, Fados)
Actors: Lorenzo Balducci, Lino Guanciale

Film: Love and Other Impossible Pursuits (US. World Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: Recent Harvard grad and newlywed Emilia deals with the loss of her newborn as well as her cheating father and her husband’s jealous ex-wife.
Director: Don Roos (Boys on the Side, The Opposite of Sex)
Actors: Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow
Wild speculation: Portman’s no stranger to TIFF and we can bank on Roos, as director, to show up to chat about his film. As for the Friends star, most of Roos’s directorial efforts involve Kudrow in one way or another, so the BFFs will likely show up together.

Film: The Men Who Stare at Goats (US. North American Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: A reporter meets a mysterious man claiming to be part of an experimental US army unit of “Warrior Monks” with psychic powers who can read minds, walk through walls and “even kill a goat by simply staring at it.”
Director: Grant Heslov (writer, Good Night, and Good Luck)
Actors: Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Jeff Bridges
Wild speculation: So that makes two TIFF films for Clooney, meaning he has to come, right?

Film: Mother and Child (US. World Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: The exploration of the mother-child bond among three different women.
Director: Rodrigo Garcia (Big Love, Six Feet Under)
Actors: Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson
Wild speculation: Sam Jackson is the most likely person to show up (he’d go to the opening of a envelope). As for the three women, we think it’s an all-or-nothing deal here. Since it’s a world premiere, their agents are likely ensuring the stars show up—that is, if Watts can take time out of hawking perfume.

Special Presentations

Film: The Joneses (US. World Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: Hellish suburban tale about a couple who moves into a new neighbourhood and becomes the envy of their neighbours with plenty of juicy secrets hidden behind picket fences.
Director: Derrick Borte (directorial debut)
Actors: Demi Moore, David Duchovny
Wild speculation: Both stars are a safe bet: Duchovny’s back from rehab and not a liability;  Moore’s bound to use the premiere as an excuse to Tweet about how not Hollywood she is. Bonus! Ashton Kutcher for the win.

Film: The Road (US. North American Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: Post-apocalyptic tale based on the Pulitzer-winning novel where a father and his son travel across a desolate America.
Director: John Hillcoat (The Proposition)
Actors: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce
Wild speculation: Viggo’s the best bet here since he’s in the starring role and he was having a ball playing the piano at Sutton Place at last year’s fest.

Film: A Single Man (US. North American Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: A gay college professor dealing with the death of his hot life-partner (Goode), while being stalked by a hot student (Hoult) and confiding in a hot friend (Moore).
Director: Tom Ford (directorial debut)
Actors: Colin Firth, Matthew Goode, Julianne Moore. Nicholas Hoult
Wild speculation: Tom Ford’s clothes, at the very least, will be on the red carpet and we’re pretty sure he seduced/convinced the cast to come to praise his directing skills. Besides, Moore and Firth both have two films at the festival this year.

Film: Youth in Revolt (US. North American Premiere)
One-sentence synopsis: A love-stricken and awkward 14-year-old (played by Michael Cera, shocker) tries to win the heart of, and lose his virginity to, his dream girl.
Director: Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl, Freaks and Geeks)
Actors: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Justin Long
Wild speculation: The local media would get the knives out if Cera didn’t show up to a festival in his hometown, so we can count on him sticking around after Scott Pilgram finishes filming.